HOWTO: Reading a File on a Web Server from an Applet

ID: Q180707


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual J++, versions 1.0, 1.1
  • Microsoft SDK for Java, versions 2.0, 2.01, 2.02, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2


SUMMARY

The following sample code shows how to read a file on a Web Server from an applet.


MORE INFORMATION

The class below shows how to read a text file named Readme.txt from the server. NOTE: Place all of the files in the same folder on the Web server.

The following steps give an example of how an applet can read a file on a Web Server:

  1. Create the following file, naming it ReadFile.java:
    
    // 
    // ReadFile.java
    // 
    import java.io.*;
    import java.net.*;
    import java.applet.*;
    import java.awt.*;
    
    public class ReadFile extends Applet {
       public void start () {
          TextArea textArea=new TextArea();
          setLayout(new BorderLayout());
          add("Center",textArea);
          String text=null;
          try {
             URL url = new URL(getDocumentBase(),"readme.txt");
             DataInputStream stream = new
             DataInputStream(url.openStream());
             do {
                text = stream.readLine();
                if (text!=null) textArea.appendText(text+"\r\n");
             } while (text!=null);
          }
          catch (IOException e) {
             e.printStackTrace();
          }
       }
    } 


  2. Compile the ReadFile.java class, creating a ReadFile.class.


  3. Create a text file with at least one line of text and name it Readme.txt.


  4. Create an HTML file named ReadFile.html with the following code:
    
    <html>
    <head>
    <title>readfile</title>
    </head>
    <body>
    <hr>
    <applet
        code=ReadFile
        name=readfile
        width=320
        height=240 >
    </applet>
    <hr>
    <a href="ReadFile.java">The source.</a>
    </body>
    </html> 


  5. Put ReadFile.java, ReadFile.class, ReadFile.html, and Readme.txt in the same folder on your Web Server.


  6. Open ReadFile.html from Internet Explorer.


You should be able to see your text from Readme.txt on the applet.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbcode kbSDKJava300 kbSDKJava310 kbSDKJava320
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,2.0,2.01,2.02,3.0,3.1,3.2
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: October 14, 1999
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